Artificial arm and hand



A. IVIANTEL.

ARTIFICIAL ARM AND HAND.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1922.

Patented June 20, 1922.-

PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTE MAN'IEL, OF TAYLORVILLE, ILLINOIS.

ARTIFICIAL ARM AND HAND.

enace.

Application filed January 16, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Aocus'rn MANTEL, a citizen of France, residing at Taylorville, in the county of Christian and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Arms and Hands: and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved artificial arm and hand adapted to be used by a person who has his hand amputated at or near the wrist.

The principal object of the invention is to generally improve upon appliances of this class by providing one of extreme simplicity and durability which may be conveniently worn by unfortunate persons to enable the arm to which the appliance is connected, to be utilized for manipulating shovels and the like, whereby a minor or laborer may be able to work as effectively and easily as if his hand were not gone.

More specifically speaking, it is another object of the invention to provide an artificial arm and hand including a sheath for reception of the stub, this sheath being equipped with a pair of claws or hooks so connected and arranged that they are capable of gripping a shovel handle or the like, together with means for attaching these parts to the arm above the elbow so as not to interfere with the free action necessary in manipulating the invention.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an appliance constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view with parts removed and with the sheath shown in section.

Referring to the drawings by numerals 1 designates a sheath constructed of leather or other suitable material, the same being provided with an internal shaping and anchoring block 2 formed in its inner end with a substantially semi-circular socket 3 for reception of the stub of the users arm. A

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 20, 1922.

Serial No. 529,722.

hook 4: has the threaded portion 5 of its shank extended through the outer end of the sheath and threaded or otherwise connected with the anchoring block 2 and a collar 6 is screwed or otherwise secured to the sheath and surrounds the shank of the hook. A second hook 7 is pivotally connected as at 8 to the intermediate portion of the shank of the first named hook and a'retaining ring 9 is adapted to be slipped over the pivoted shank to dispose the hooked ends of the hook in overlapping relation to form a closed ring iiislgned to surround a shovel handle or the Connected with the open end of the sheath at approximately diametrically opposite points, are short straps 9 formed at their free ends with loops and another strap 11 is passed through these loops and the free ends 'buckled or otherwise detachably and adjustably connected together. When in position on the arm. this strap 11 surrounds the same above the elbow. To act in conjunction with these straps for maintaining the device in position, I employ an adjustable sleeve 12 and in order to connect this sleeve with the sheath and to limit the movement of the artificial hand in one direction, I employ bars 13 and 14, these being secured at their outer ends to the sheath and sleeve respectively and being pivotally connected together at their inner ends as indicated at 15. At these points of pivot, the bars are constructed, as before stated. to limit the movement of the artificial hand with respect to the arm so as to prevent undue twisting and undesirable movement of the artificial hand or claws. By carefully examining the construction shown it will be seen that free bending of the elbow is permitted and when the arm is straightened, the artificial hand will function as the human hand does.

In use, the overlapping ends of the sleeve 12 are separated and the ends of the strap 11 disconnected so that the stub of the arm can be inserted into the sleeve and engaged with the recess of socket in said block. Then, the ends of the strap and sleeve are connected together to tightly connect the appliance with the arm. Assuming that the hooks are open as indicated at 2 and it is desired to engage them with a shovel handle or the like, the user will move the hooks to the position shown in Fig. 1 and slip the retaining ring over the pivoted shanks of the hooks to maintain them together and to cause them to grip the shovel handle. Hence, it will be seen that the artificial arm and hand can be manipulated for shoveling and for various other uses.

It might be conveniently stated here that appliances constructed in accordance with this invention have been actually tested by workmen requiring artificial arms and hands and have proven to be successful beyond doubt. With the use of the invention. it has been ascertained that the user can do equally as much work at shoveling coal, handling sledge hammers, etc. as workmen possessingboth hands can do.

By carefully considering the description in connection with the drawings, persons familiar with devices of this class will doubtless be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention. Therefore. a more lengthy and detailed description is deemed unnecessar bince probably the best results may be obtained with the construction and arrangement herein shown and described, this is taken as the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, I wish it to be understood that minor changes coming Within the scope of the invention as claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

1. An artificial arm and hand including a pair of hooks having their hooked ends overlapped to form a closed ring and having their shanks pivoted together between their ends, and a sliding ring surrounding said shanks to hold them together.

2. An artificial arm and hand including a sheath for reception of the stub of the forearm, straps secured to opposite sides of said sheath, the free ends of the straps being looped, another and adjustable strap passing through said loops, said last strap being adapted to surround the wearers arm just above the elbow. a sleeve to surround arm above said last strap, and connection between the sleeve and sheath.

3. An artificial arm and hand comprising a sheath for reception of the stub of the forearm, straps secured to diametrically opposite sides of the open end of the sheath, the free ends of said straps being looped, another and an adjustable strap passing through said loops, said last named strap being adapted to surround the Wearers arm just above the elbow, a sleeve to surround the arm above said last named strap, a connection between the sleeve and sheath, a pair of books having their hooked end arranged in overlapped relation and having their shanks pivoted together with the shank of one hook connected with the aforesaid sheath, and a retainer slidable on said my hand.

AUGUSTE MANTEL. 

